Summer Wrestling Camp Keeps Local Youth Busy

Summer Wrestling Camp Keeps Local Youth Busy

By Tamas Mondovics

In harmony with last year’s theme, “Get Moving,” and with some extra focus on the fun factor, the Black and Blue Summer Wrestling Fun Camp, held at Riverview High School, is once again offering an opportunity for local youth to keep busy during the summer months, with Riverview High School wrestling coach William Sargable at the helm. With the attention focused on the ever-growing problem of childhood obesity, Sargable emphasized the importance of getting young people off the couch and away from the TV and the computer. “It is imperative that kids develop good eating habits and physical activity and get busy,” he said. “Our primary mission for offering the summer youth sports camp is to give area kids an opportunity to stay physically active throughout the summer.” Sargable said that without organized athletic programs and camps, it is often difficult for a parent to motivate a child to be physically active. The Black and Blue Summer Wrestling Camp was founded six years ago with the purpose to introduce wrestling to area boys who may not have an understanding of or lacked exposure to real wrestling.While wrestling is the main course, in recent years the camp actually evolved into a full sports fun camp with activities that include water-ball dodgeball, kickball, flicker football, soccer, tennis, wrestling, games (like snake-in-the-grass, capture the queen), power ball and many more.“The kids love it,” Sargable said. “At the end of each camp, the campers are rewarded for their hard work and receive a camp shirt along with a pizza party.” Camp is scheduled for Monday – Thursday. Helping with the program as camp counselors are a number of high school wrestlers who also play all the games and have just as much fun as the rest. With June’s session over, the Black and Blue Wrestling Camp is going strong and will continue with three more sessions scheduled Monday- Thursdays, July 12-15, July 26-29 and August 9-12. For more information about the camp or to sign up for one or more of the upcoming sessions, please contact Sargable at 671-6009 or e-mail William.Sargable@sdhc.k12.fl.us.